I’ve been dropping hints for months on social media. Now I’m back to sweep the tumbleweed from this blog with the news that my portrait studio on the border of Cheshire and the Wirral is now officially open for business!
If you’ve been following me online, you’ll know this has been a long time coming. After 17 years as a professional picture-taker, I finally felt ready and able to invest in a beautiful dedicated space to photograph my clients.
I took the plunge on my 41st birthday and a few weeks later in the middle of a heat wave, our bespoke studio was taking shape at the bottom of our garden. By September I was inside with my 3 year old painting the interior and in October I photographed my first client! Now it’s finished, I wanted to share why I decided to build it and what it means if you’re thinking of booking a session.
Why A GARDEN STUDIO
1. The great British weather. I have been capturing family portraits outdoors on medium format film for years, which is glorious in good light and less so in a downpour. From November to March, bookings would inevitably slow and as a parent I get it. Unless there’s snow on the ground, there aren’t many kids who would tolerate 60-90 minutes in the damp and cold!
Even in the warmer months, there is always risk of rain or high wind which can mean postponing a photography session to another day. Now I have a plan B to offer my clients. If the weather turns at the last minute, we can still go ahead and capture beautiful photographs in a dedicated, temperature-controlled and weather-proof studio space.
The studio offers comfort. No cold hands, wind-blown hair, muddy shoes or squinting into the sun. It’s easy to relax when you aren’t thinking about how you look or worrying about what the weather’s doing.
2. Privacy. I appreciate that many people simply don’t feel comfortable being photographed in a public place, whether that’s a busy park or a high street. In the studio there’s no need to worry about having an audience of strangers or bumping into one of the school mums mid-shoot, it’s just me and my camera.
By its nature the studio is also a quiet, calm space where you can feel at home for the duration of your session which can be more comfortable for neurodivergent children and adults than an unpredictable public place.
3. Newborn sessions. Babies arrive all year round and I wanted a calm, dedicated space for new parents to come and relax while I photograph those first portraits of their little one. If you don’t fancy a newborn session at home then the studio can be set up ahead of your visit, giving you somewhere cosy and private to take your time, feed and settle your baby as and when you need to and leave the portraits to me.
As a mum of two I know that just leaving the house with a newborn can feel like a mission in itself, so you can relax knowing I’ll have the kettle boiling as you arrive and you can enjoy the experience with someone who has been exactly where you are. Read all about my approach on the maternity and newborn page.
4. Personal brand portraits. I wanted a dedicated space to photograph female founders, so you have clean, consistent portraits to promote your business. The studio has a beautiful desk set-up for “at work” shots and a range of designer posing chairs we can work with, so you’ll be able to sit and relax without worrying about what to do with your hands!
You can bring accessories with you to include in the shoot without lugging them all around locations. Any products, equipment, a laptop, wardrobe changes and props can be popped in the corner of the studio ready to grab as and when throughout the session. The studio also means you have a private space to change outfits and touch up your lippy without a trip to the car or a nearby pub loo!
You’ll find more details on my personal brand photography page.
A space that does a lot
The studio is larger than you might expect, which means I can dress several different areas ahead of each session. You won’t need to wait while I move furniture and change backdrops and you’ll get a real variety of images from one booking. And because it sits in the garden, there’s plenty of scope for outdoor photographs in nature too.
It’s also earning its keep in other ways. I even record the Mum Means Business podcast in there now!
What happens next
Studio sessions are by appointment and I’ll share the details when you get in touch. I’ll be running a few limited launch offers in the run up to Christmas, so keep an eye on my Instagram.
If you’d like to book a session or just have a chat about what would suit you best, I’d love to hear from you. Still prefer to shoot at a beautiful outdoor location? Have a look at my favourite shoot locations across Cheshire and the Wirral.
